Torquay Peeping Tom, 45, placed on sex offenders register

A PEEPING Tom who watched a couple being intimate in their home is to be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years.

Torbay Magistrates' Court heard how Brian Symons spotted the couple having sex through their ground floor bedroom window in Torquay.

Symons, formerly of Torquay but now living in Bristol, had previously appeared before Torbay magistrates and admitted one count of observing a person doing a private act for the purpose of sexual gratification.

Chris Bittlestone, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing how Symons, 45, had decided to answer nature's call and went into an alleyway and spotted the couple through their window blinds.

Mr Bittlestone said: "This couple was engaged in an activity of intimate nature when they heard some noise outside their window.

"Ten minutes later they heard a male voice through the window who said 'I'm watching you'."

Mr Bittlestone said the couple became very concerned, went outside and saw someone receding in the distance.

He told the court Symons was identified through DNA.

The incident happened in August last year.

When he was tracked down and interviewed by police, Symons made a full admission.

Mr Bittlestone said the victims had felt violated.

He said: "They can't relax in their own house, which is something we should all be allowed to do."

Alan Parsons, mitigating, said Symons had been told he would be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

Magistrates sentenced him to a community penalty including a supervision requirement for three years, participation in the Thames Valley Sex Offenders' programme and to five years on the register.